Ghana has begun repatriating its citizens from South Africa amid tightening immigration enforcement and rising protests against illegal migrants, with nearly 300 people arriving in Accra on a government-chartered flight from Johannesburg.
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Authorities confirmed that 297 Ghanaian nationals landed in the capital on Wednesday following growing concerns over safety and immigration compliance in South Africa. Ghana’s High Commissioner in South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, noted that additional departures are expected as the repatriation process continues in the coming days.
The Ghanaian government organized the evacuation after a wave of demonstrations calling for stricter action against illegal migrants. The movement known as March and March has campaigned for foreign nationals without legal status to leave South Africa by a 30 June deadline, citing pressure on public services.
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South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs reported that only 10 of the 300 Ghanaian nationals scheduled for repatriation were found to be legally compliant. Immigration and Law Enforcement head Stephen van Neel stated, “Of the three hundred individuals that were on that list we only found 10 of them being legal in the country,” adding that the rest were either overstaying or not complying with immigration requirements.
Among those returning, some migrants described long stays in South Africa after initially entering on visitor visas. In an interview, Nana Acheampong, who lived in the country for 21 years, explained that he later sought asylum, citing family-related conflict and fears for his safety upon return to Ghana. He stated that he presented his case to authorities, who issued him asylum documentation.
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High Commissioner Quashie emphasized that Ghana would not retaliate against South Africans and highlighted plans to reintegrate returnees into local economic activities. He added that it remains the responsibility of governments to ensure the safety of citizens both abroad and at home.
Estimates cited in the report place the Ghanaian community in South Africa at around 25,000 people with the majority being illegally in the country. Further repatriation flights are expected in the coming days as processing continues.
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